IT’S TOP secret
ATHLETE Alistair ir Brownlee on n Yorkshire puddings and St Moritz z
WHO IS YOUR SPORTING HERO?
I’ve never really had a famous sporting hero. The people who inspire me most are those closest around me — teachers at school, coaches, my parents… and my brother Jonny (below).
WHAT WOULD YOU BE IF YOU WEREN’T A SPORTSMAN?
I’d still be doing some sort of sport, though probably a bit more leisurely than the level I’m competing at now! I started doing a medicine degree at university before I left to focus on the triathlon, so I’d probably still be following that path.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT?
Winning the Olympics in front of a home crowd in London is the definite highlight — it’ll be very hard for anything to come close to that.
...AND THE WORST MOMENT?
I’ve had a few! Being injured at the World Championship final in London last year was a really bad moment. To be back competing in Hyde Park a year after the Olympics but carrying that injury, and having such a different experience, was probably the worst moment in my career.
IF YOUR HOUSE WAS BURNING DOWN, WHAT ONE POSSESSION WOULD YOU SAVE?
My Olympics gold medal. I’m not usually that bothered about the medals I get. Half the time they don’t even make it home with me because I’ll end up flinging them away or losing them somewhere. With the Olympics medal it’s different — that one’s really precious to me.
FAVOURITE SONG?
I’m a big fan of Lorde (below). I’ve been listening to her album recently and she’s got a lot of good songs on there, not just the ones you hear on the radio.
WHICH THREE PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WOULD YOU INVITE FOR THE PERFECT DINNER DATE?
This is a tricky one. I’m sure I should probably go for some really inspirational figures like Nelson Mandela, but I think I’d just go for three nice-looking women!
LAST FILM YOU SAW?
The Railway Man, about a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. It was pretty hard going but a good watch.
CAN YOU COOK? BEST DISH?
I can’t do it very well. My best dish is probably a big Yorkshire pudding with some sort of mince filling.
YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
I’ve been on some fantastic holidays but I also get to travel to some great places through my sport. I love going to St Moritz in the Swiss Alps for altitude training in the summer but I’d really like to go back there in winter some time.
IN A FILM OF YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY YOU?
No idea. I think I’d have to do it myself!
TELL US A SECRET...
One of my nicknames at school was Brown-nose. My friends thought it was funny, they still call me it a fair bit.